Patents by Inventor Susan M. Tholen

Susan M. Tholen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7721433
    Abstract: An outer seal assembly of a turbine rotor stage is secured within a circumferential groove of the turbine casing in such a manner as to both fix the outer seal assembly in its installed position and also provide for sealing around its outer periphery so as to thereby prevent the leakage of cooling air therearound. A plurality of arcuate elements having an angle-shaped cross sectional profile are provided to interface between radially extending arms of the outer seal assembly and the inner surface of the casing, with a locking mechanism then being applied to secure the two structures in their installed positions. Each of the arcuate elements includes a radially extending panel, a plurality of forwardly extending hooks that are disposed within a groove in the casing, and a second forwardly extending flange that engages the rear surface of the outer seal assembly arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph J. Thompson, Susan M. Tholen
  • Publication number: 20100080707
    Abstract: A blade outer air seal (BOAS) casting core has first and second end portions and a plurality of legs. Of these legs, first legs each have: a first end joining the first end portion; a main body portion; and a second end. Second legs each have: a second end joining the second end portion; a main body portion; and a first portion. At least one of the second legs may have its first end joining the core first end portion and a plurality of apertures in the main body portion. Alternatively, at least one of the first legs may have its second end joining the core second end portion and a plurality of apertures in its main body portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Susan M. Tholen
  • Patent number: 7686068
    Abstract: A blade outer air seal (BOAS) casting core has first and second end portions and a plurality of legs. Of these legs, first legs each have: a proximal end joining the first end portion; a main body portion; and a free distal portion. Second legs each have: a proximal end joining the second end portion; a main body portion; and a free distal portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Susan M. Tholen, Paul M. Lutjen, Richard H. Page, Richard W. Hoff, Roger J. Gates, Michael F. Blair
  • Patent number: 7650926
    Abstract: A blade outer air seal (BOAS) casting core has first and second end portions and a plurality of legs. Of these legs, first legs each have: a first end joining the first end portion; a main body portion; and a second end. Second legs each have: a second end joining the second end portion; a main body portion; and a first portion. At least one of the second legs may have its first end joining the core first end portion and a plurality of apertures in the main body portion. Alternatively, at least one of the first legs may have its second end joining the core second end portion and a plurality of apertures in its main body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Susan M. Tholen
  • Publication number: 20090301680
    Abstract: A blade outer air seal (BOAS) casting core has first and second end portions and a plurality of legs. Of these legs, first legs each have: a proximal end joining the first end portion; a main body portion; and a free distal portion. Second legs each have: a proximal end joining the second end portion; a main body portion; and a free distal portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Susan M. Tholen, Paul M. Lutjen, Richard H. Page, Richard W. Hoff, Roger J. Gates, Michael F. Blair
  • Publication number: 20090148277
    Abstract: Gas turbine engines and related systems involving blade outer air seals are provided. In this regard, a representative blade outer air seal assembly for a gas turbine engine includes: an annular arrangement of outer air seal segments, each of the segments having ends, the segments being positioned in an end-to-end orientation such that each adjacent pair of the segments forms an intersegment gap therebetween, each intersegment gap being defined, at least partially, by a first recess and a first protrusion, the first protrusion being sized and shaped to be received by the first recess, one of the first recess and the first protrusion being located on an end of a first segment of an adjacent pair of the segments, another of the first recess and the first protrusion being located on an end of a second segment of the adjacent pair of the segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
    Inventors: Susan M. Tholen, Paul M. Lutjen
  • Publication number: 20090136345
    Abstract: A turbine seal member for use in a gas turbine engine includes a turbine seal substrate having a gas-path side and a ceramic layer disposed on the gas-path side that includes a plurality of mechanical indentations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventors: Susan M. Tholen, Christopher W. Strock
  • Publication number: 20090130424
    Abstract: A composite article includes a substrate and a thermal barrier secured to the substrate. The thermal barrier includes a plurality of closed pores within a ceramic matrix. For example, the closed pores comprise 20 vol % to 80 vol % of the thermal barrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Susan M. Tholen, Christopher W. Strock
  • Publication number: 20090123266
    Abstract: A turbine blade outer air seal segment assembly has a first turbine blade outer air seal segment with a first end portion, a middle portion and a second end portion. The first turbine blade outer air seal segment is for connection with a second turbine blade outer air seal segment to form at least a part of a shroud of a turbine rotor. A first cooling passage is disposed within the first turbine blade outer air seal segment. The cooling passage extends from the first end portion to the second end portion and a land is disposed in at least one of the first or second end portions. The land represents a portion for receiving a mold ejection pin for a core forming the cooling passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Anne-Marie B. Thibodeau, Susan M. Tholen
  • Publication number: 20090110546
    Abstract: Feather seals and gas turbine engine systems involving such seals are provided. In this regard, a representative feather seal for a gas turbine engine includes: an elongate body portion; and a locating tab extending longitudinally along the body portion and extending outwardly therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
    Inventors: Susan M. Tholen, Ralph J. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20090104025
    Abstract: Gas turbine engines and related systems involving blade outer air seals are provided. In this regard, a representative blade outer air seal assembly for a gas turbine engine includes: an annular arrangement of outer air seal segments defining an inner diameter surface; intersegment gaps located between the outer air seal segments, each of the gaps being located between a corresponding adjacent pair of the segments; and recesses spaced about the inner diameter surface, each of the recesses communicating with a corresponding one of the gaps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: United Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Paul M. Lutjen, Susan M. Tholen
  • Publication number: 20090097970
    Abstract: Systems and methods involving air seals are provided. In this regard, a representative air seal for a gas turbine engine comprises a layer of ceramic exhibiting patterned surface features, wherein a substrate supporting the layer of ceramic lacks the patterned surface features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
    Inventors: Susan M. Tholen, Christopher W. Strock
  • Publication number: 20090087306
    Abstract: A blade outer air seal (BOAS) casting core has first and second end portions and a plurality of legs. Of these legs, first legs each have: a proximal end joining the first end portion; a main body portion; and a free distal portion. Second legs each have: a proximal end joining the second end portion; a main body portion; and a free distal portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Susan M. Tholen, Paul M. Lutjen
  • Publication number: 20090081025
    Abstract: A component for a gas turbine engine has an airfoil with internal cooling channels for delivering air from a radially outer end of the airfoil toward a radially inner end of the airfoil. The cooling channels are separated from adjacent cooling channels by sets of at least two disconnected wall segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventors: Paul M. Lutjen, Susan M. Tholen
  • Publication number: 20090060747
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a gas turbine engine component includes the steps of forming a ceramic workpiece having oriented ceramic reinforcement, and severing the ceramic workpiece to produce a ceramic member having a desired orientation of the ceramic reinforcement. The ceramic member is then attached to a turbine engine component as a thermal barrier layer for the turbine engine component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Christopher W. Strock, Susan M. Tholen
  • Publication number: 20090053554
    Abstract: A composite article includes a substrate including a first metallic material having a nominal composition, and a bond coat disposed on the substrate. The bond coat includes a second metallic material having the nominal composition of the first metallic material. A ceramic top coat is disposed on the bond coat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: Christopher W. Strock, Susan M. Tholen
  • Publication number: 20080159850
    Abstract: A blade outer air seal system includes a body that extends between two circumferential sides, a leading edge and a trailing edge, and a radially inner side and a radially outer side. An attachment section associated with the body and includes at least one engagement surface that is transverse to the radially outer side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Susan M. Tholen, Paul M. Lutjen
  • Publication number: 20080079523
    Abstract: A blade outer air seal (BOAS) casting core has first and second end portions and a plurality of legs. Of these legs, first legs each have: a first end joining the first end portion; a main body portion; and a second end. Second legs each have: a second end joining the second end portion; a main body portion; and a first portion. At least one of the second legs may have its first end joining the core first end portion and a plurality of apertures in the main body portion. Alternatively, at least one of the first legs may have its second end joining the core second end portion and a plurality of apertures in its main body portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Inventor: Susan M. Tholen